Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Shelby
“I’ll walk.” I huff, eyeing the wheelchair.
Leonard tilts his head back and closes his eyes.
“It’s hospital policy,” he insists, catching my defiant gaze. Releasing the handles, he approaches me on the bed. “And even if it wasn’t, you’d still be using it.”
Crouching in front of me, Leo starts to reach for me, his hands hovering over my knees for just a second before he retreats, resting them on his own thigh.
“Get your cute ass in the chair so I can take you home.”
The thought of going back to my empty house makes me want to cry. I roll my lips in and avert my gaze while blinking away tears.
Misunderstanding my sadness, Leo swipes my cheek.
“You’re healing nicely. Emile has agreed to travel to Cromwell twice a week to oversee your physio.”
I nod at what I already know.
His obsession with getting the best doctors to help my recovery helps a little, even if he can’t stand to touch me.
Leonard steps back, allowing the nurse to help me into the chair.
I wave at the nurses as we leave, but it’s half-hearted.
What happens now? If he and I are over, do I tell the sheriff what I know, or do I let him continue “helping” people?
I roll my eyes at the word, and thankfully, the move is hidden, and Doc is unable to see it from behind me.
“Let’s get you in, shall we?” Justine, my nurse, says with a smile. “Front or back seat?” she asks, her question directed at the man behind me.
I groan as I stand from the chair, the movement jolting my shoulder.
“Front.”
I close my eyes at Leo’s clipped tone.
“Careful,” Justine encourages, her hands gentle yet sturdy as she supports me from the right.
Air leaves me in a whoosh when my slinged arm touches the seat.
“Remember, you have the painkillers when you need them. Don’t suffer in silence.”
I nod.
“I’ll make sure she stays on top of them,” Leo says, handing off the wheelchair.
I bite my lip as the car pulls away from the curb.
“Will you?” I ask, wetting my lips.
Concentrating on the road, Leonard doesn’t look at me. “Will I what?”
“Watch my meds?”
“Of course.” He nods, like it’s obvious.
After all, he is a doctor. The fact is bitter in my mind.
“No need. I’ll come by your office when I need refills.”
“You’ve had an attitude since yesterday. I suggest you either say what’s bothering you or lose the brattiness.”
Brattiness? Brattiness!
I swing my head to the left.
“Fuck you!”
Startled eyes leave the road, and I let him see my anger just for a second.
“I’m a brat for trying to make this easier on both of us.”
“No, you’re a brat for giving attitude to the person trying to help you.”
“Maybe,” I concede, “but you’re a fucking coward!”
I blink away tears.
The car stops sharply at a red light, and the movement aggravates my aching body.
Leo catches my chin. “You’re begging to go over my knee.” But the anger leaves his face quickly when he reads my pain.
“Shit,” he curses.
I blink in surprise, letting out a shocked laugh.
A smile tugs at his lips, mirroring my own.
“I’m doing a poor job of taking care of you already. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to go home,” I whisper tearfully.
Doc frowns. “Why would you not want to go home?”
I lean into the hand brushing my hair back, a shiver flowing through me when he caresses my ear.
Opening and closing my mouth, I fight to get the truth out. “I want to stay with you. You and Riley,” I confess truthfully.
Tilting his head, Leo pulls back, looking confused. A breathy chuckle leaves him. Relief and disbelief.
Knocking my chin gently, he asks, “Where else would you be?”
A car horn behind startles me.
Raising a hand in apology, Leonard presses the gas.
Frowning, I worry my lip. “You won’t touch me,” I whisper so low that even I barely hear the words.
Doc draws in air as if to respond, but it leaves in a sigh.
The rest of the car ride is done in silence.
Turning onto our street, I spot something at the end of my drive.
A For Rent sign.
My heart jumps.
The attached house quickly pulls my eyes away.
Welcome home. It’s everywhere.
Seeing the welcome home banners hung across the windows and door, I give in to my tears.
Home.
A wet laugh bubbles out of me. Even the creepy gnome has a sign.
“He still freaks me out,” I point out.
“Riley insisted he be included.” He grins, climbing out of the car.
My door opens a second after the back passenger door opens and closes.
Taking the cap off, he hands me a water bottle. Pulling out a pill bottle from his inner jacket pocket, Leo shakes two pills into the palm of his hand.
“Take them,” he encourages when I shake my head.
“They make me sleepy.”
“I know.” He nods, but his steely gaze under his dark-rimmed glasses doesn’t falter.
I give in.
“We’ll go in, and you can take a nap. Samantha and some of the Cromwells are inside, but I’m sure they won’t mind waiting a little longer.”
What? My heart flutters with love.
“They’ve been helping empty your house this past week.
Everything from your bedroom is now in my house.
Our house,” he amends. “Everything else, including furniture, has been boxed, labelled, and moved to storage in the Cromwells’ trucking office.
Christopher assures me that it’s safe there.
We’ll sort through it when you’re recovered,” he informs me.
“Thank you,” I breathe.
Turning, I move my legs out of the car, biting my bottom lip when my shins brush Leo’s legs.
Strong hands tilt my head back up. He leans in, brushing his nose along mine and down my cheek.
“You’re right, I haven’t been touching you. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to. It was because I couldn’t.”
My chin wobbles.
“Shhh,” he soothes. “I couldn’t because I knew the minute that I did, I wouldn’t be able to stop. God, I need you.”
His words, his tone, and the look in his eyes capture my heart.
“You were struggling before, Shelby.”
Before the accident.
“I wanted to give you the time you needed. But this is your home. Right here with me and our girl.”
Love and grief choke me.
“We’ll talk about everything else later. I need you to get better first.”
I nod. I can do that.
“Will you lie with me for a bit?” I ask, climbing out of the Jag.
Leo makes a pain-filled sound, but I know by the look on his face that he won’t deny me.
Our steps are small and in sync as we cross the lawn. The small cheer that fills the house as we enter fills my heart.
“My baby,” my stepmother calls, pulling me into a tight hug.
“Hi.” I sink into her. I’ve missed her.
I’m passed off to Helen Cromwell.
“And my baby,” she whispers, the words just for the two of us.
“Thank you for coming.” I hug her tighter.
Soon, the two women who have been a mother to me envelop me together.
“Grrr.”
The little growl is accompanied by little hands wedging between our bodies, and then Riley squeezes her whole being into the centre of our trio.
“Hi, Momma.”
Curling at the waist, I hug her tight.
“Hi, baby.” I kiss her head.
Not wanting to interrupt, my best friend gives me a side hug, kissing my left shoulder.
Standing straight, I groan.
“Okay, that’s enough for now.” Leonard steps in. “The painkillers should be kicking in any minute. A nap and then she’s all yours,” he promises the room.
“Aw,” Sam and Riley complain together.
“The doctor knows best,” Helen’s husband says.
Christopher cups the back of my head and kisses my forehead softly.
“Rest for as long as you need. We’ll be here when you wake up.
The chocolate cupcakes might not be,” he jokingly warns, nodding to his daughter and Riley, who are both eyeing the sweet treats laid out on the kitchen table.
I give a short laugh. “Smuggle one into the cupboard for me.”
“Already done.” He winks.
I feel Leo’s hands on my waist immediately.
“Christopher,” he acknowledges.
I try to smother my chuckle unsuccessfully.
“What are you laughing at?” Doc asks, leading me down the hall.
“You,” I reply, looking up at him.
He glares playfully. “The only man who gets to wink at you is me.”
Slowly lowering onto the bed, I roll my eyes.
“I saw that,” he whispers, capturing my chin.
I do it again.
His eyes darken instantly. Tilting my chin, I seek a kiss. My body deflates when the only thing to touch my lip is his thumb.
“Touch me,” I plead. I need to know that he still wants me, wants us.
“I am touching you.”
This time, my eye roll isn’t teasing, nor is my huff.
Tapping his hand away from my face, I kick off my shoes.
“Shelby,” he starts.
I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it.” But the words come out watery.
Reaching for the band of my sweatpants, he tells me, “Lift your hips.”
“I got it.” I wave him away.
“With what hand?” he challenges, raising a brow. His face quickly softens. “Hey, hey.” He captures my cast wrist, placing a kiss on my fingers. “Don’t.”
I bite my lip.
“I wasn’t joking out in the car, Shelby. If I touch you, I won’t be able to stop.”
I take a sharp breath at his confession.
“I don’t want you to stop.”
He kisses my fingers again, frowning at the cast. “You need to heal.”
“My doctor said I’m okay for that.”
“I’m your doctor,” he corrects.
“I’m okay, Leo,” I whisper.
His eyes drop to my lips.
“I promise. Kiss me.”
Doc closes his eyes, looking pained. When his eyes open, he’s no longer at war with himself.
“Lift your hips,” he orders again.
I do as I’m told. Peeling my sweats off, he takes my socks with them. Gentle fingers untie my sling.
“This goes back on after your nap. I know you sleep better without it, and you need rest.”
“Hmm,” I hum.
“Those pain pills kicking in?” He grins.
I nod sleepily, my eyes drooping.
“Slowly.” He lowers me to the thick pillows.
Opening the bedside drawer to my left, Leo pulls something out. A condom.
“For now, we don’t risk it,” he explains at my frown.
“You didn’t want to before.”
Sighing, he brushes my hair away from my face. “You need to heal. We’ll talk tomorrow, but I want you to pick a contraception, and I’ll sort it out.”
My eyes fill at his words.
“Shh.”
I close my eyes, feeling his hand slip beneath my black panties.
“You don’t want a baby anymore?”
My breath hitches as pleasure builds between my thighs.
“I do.” He nods. “But you need to heal. Your body.” He presses harder on my clit. “Your mind.” He strokes my temple. “Your soul.” He leans down to kiss between my covered breasts.
I whimper when his fingers leave me.
Soft kisses rain down the side of my face as he moves above me. The sound of his zipper makes my pussy contract. Thick fingers move my panties to the side.
I’ve missed this. I’ve missed him.
“Ahh,” I cry out as he enters me.
“Shh.” He soothes again.
Leo holds himself above me, his elbows braced on the pillow on either side of my head. We are both soaking in the feel of each other.
Leaning down, he presses his lips to mine at the same time that his hips pull back. He’s gentle, slow, and caring as he takes me.
Returning his kiss, I touch my tongue to his.
“I love you,” he whispers into my mouth.
My breath catches as he pushes in a little sharper.
“I love you too,” I groan, forcing my eyes open.
My body is at war, on the edge of coming, and the pain pills are pulling me under.
The slow rhythm of his body rocking mine aids the medication.
Slipping into darkness, I hear his words whispered into my ear.
“Now this gives me déjà vu.” I can hear his smirk.
With my left hand, I flex my fingers on his waist. Leo chuckles above me.
My body’s grip on him tightens. Pleasure fills me. My legs shake where they lie on the bed.
Leo chuckles again. “Sleep. Rest,” he encourages. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
For once, I do as I’m told, letting the feel of soft kisses peppering my collarbone and the gentle rocking of my body soothe me to sleep.